Washing machine



Oct. 10, 1933. A. H. LABISKY 1,930,241

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, .1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In willow;

Oct. 10, 1933. A. H. LABISKY ,241

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In verzfar;

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 p WASHING MACHINE Arthur H. Labisky, West Bend, Wis.

Application September 26, 1931 Serial No. 565,360

Claims. (Cl. 68-24) This invention relates to washing machines of cally extending shaftlfi of the motor 1'7 carried the kind adapted for household use and wherein by the standard .7. Extending from the housing the clothes to be washed are introduced into a tub 11 is a wringer drive, generally indicated by 18. containing soapy water. The-construction of the machine as thus far de- The primary object of the invention is to move scribed is merely exemplary and any similar arthe mass of clothes bodily in the tub and at the rangernents may be provided without departing same time apply thereto a compressing and exfrom the purview of my invention. panding effect by alternately squeezing different On the inner face of the vertical wall of the parts of,the mass of clothes and allowing these tub are squee e 19 located Substantially 10 parts to expand whereby the water is squeezed dially between the top and bottom of the tub.

from the clothes and induced to pass back into These squeezers may be formed portions in the the clothes, the water being agitated during this wall of the tub as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 or they operation to increase the effectiveness of the may be formed portions on a band .20 permacleansing action. nently secured on the inner wall of the tub as 15 Further objects are to provide an oscillating shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The squeezers consist of member in the tub having squeezers formed a plurality of protuberances spaced from each thereon adapted for cooperation with squeezers other by grooves, and the protuberances and formed on the inner wall of the tub; to provide a grooves are of substantially the same size and novel washing machine which may be cleansed are rounded to smoothly merge one into the other.

20 easily, wherein the clothes will not be damaged, At the center of the bottom 22 of the tub 10 is an and wherein leakage of the water from the tub opening through which a vertically extending will be prevented; and to provide a novel washing sleeve 23 is so passedthat the peripheral shoulder machine of simple and economical construction 24 on the sleeve will rest on a gasket 25 interand efiicient and positive operation. posed between this shoulder and the inner face 25 In the selected embodiments of the inventionof thebottom of the tub. Agasket 26 is interposed illustrated in the accompanying drawings between the neck 27 on the housing 11 and the Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the washing outer side of the bottom of the tub. The lower machine as illustrated in Fig. 2; end of the sleeve 23 is threaded into the neck 27 Fig.2 is atop plan view-of the machine as illusand thus the sleeve 23 is rigidly connected in 30 trated in Fig. 1; position and the gaskets 25 and 26 serve to pre- Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on the line vent leakage from the tub. Extending through 33 of Fig. 2; the sleeve 23 is a shaft 28, the lower end of which Fig. 4isaview, similar to Fig. 2, showing amodiextends through the neck 27 into the housing 11 fied form of construction; to be operated by the mechanisms contained in 35 Fig. 51s a top plan view of the machine illusthe housing. At the up end of the Shaft 8 is tratedinFig.4; and a formed portion preferably square in outline Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substanand indicated by 29. The oscillator 30, to be detially on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and in which cerscribed in further detail hereinafter, includes at tain parts are broken away. the upper end thereof a bearing portion 31 having 40 In the accompanying drawings wherein I have an opening 32 embracing a bearing on the sleeve illustrated preferred forms of construction of my 23. The lower end of the bearing portion 31 rests invention, 7 indicates a standard of approved on a washer 30' on the shoulder 31' at-the upper form having at the upper end thereof a eontinuend of the sleeve 23. At diametrically spaced poous circular band or apron 8 provided along its sitions in the upper end of the bearing portion 45 upper edge with an inturned formed flange pro- 31 are notches 33 into which the lugs 34 onthe viding a seat 9 on which the lower edge of the tub clutch member 35 may be fitted. The clutch 10 is rested. Arranged below the tub and carried member 35 has a square opening therein into by the standard '7 is a horizontally disposed houswhich the square portion 29 is fitted and a springing 11 having a driving mechanism therein, for pressed ball 36 in the square portion 29 seats in example, of the kind shown in the patent issued notches in the walls of the square opening in the to myself and Otto E. Zahn, on July 14, 1931, No. clutch member 35 to hold said clutch member 1,814,714. Extending from the housing 11 is a against vertical movement. When the clutch vertical shaft 12 having apulley 13 thereon about member is disposed as illustrated in Fig. 3 the which an endless belt 14 is directed, said belt also lugs 34 thereon are seated in the notches 33 and being directed around the pulley 15 on the vertiwhen the operating mechanism in the housing 11 is set in motion an oscillatory movement of slightly more than one hundred and eighty degrees is imparted to the shaft 28 and by reason of the interconnection between the square portion 29 and the clutch member 35 and the seating of the lugs 34 in the notches 33, it is manifest that an oscillating movement will be imparted to the oscillator 30. By grasping the button 37 on the clutch member 35, said clutch member may be elevated to disengage the lugs 34 from the notches 33, the spring-pressed ball 36 serving to retain the clutch member in this upper position and when the clutch member is so disposed, no movement is imparted to the oscillator 30 notwithstanding continued operation of the shaft 28. In the oscillator 30 is a depending sleeve 38 and the lower end thereof rides on an annular shoulder 39 on the sleeve 23, and this arrangement serves to guide the oscillator 30 during the movement thereof to prevent wabbling. A plate 41 is provided at the lower end of the oscillator and is disposed close to the bottom 22. The oscillator is preferably a casting and has squeezers 42 thereon. The squeezers 42 are spaced from each other and project radially and the outer ends thereof are shaped substantially similarly to the squeezers 19. The squeezers 42 are substantially coextensive with the squeezers 19 and the size of said squeezers Hand 42 is sufiicient to effect appreciable squeezing of the clothes as the squeezers 42 move past the squeezers 19 during movement of the oscillator 30. The squeezers are not relied on for any rubbing action and therefore the outline thereof is preferably uniform to be free of any uneven edges which might damage the clothes. The upper and lower ends of the squeezers at the tub wall are respectively spaced from the top and bottom edges of the wall. By terminating the squeezers above the bottom of the tub wall, a well is provided and since the dirt loosened from the clothes will be heavier than the water, this dirt will tend to collectat the bottom of the tub. The water action is such that this dirt tends to collect in the well provided at the bottom of the tub wall at the periphery of the tub and dirt so collected is not repetitiously circulated through the clothes and this expedites cleansing of the clothes.

In the embodiment of the invention thus far described, a clutch is provided at the upper end of the shaft 28 and while this arrangement is very advantageous it may be that under certain conditions it will be desirable. to provide a clutch at the interconnection of the shaft 28 to the driving mechanism in the housing 11. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The oscillator 30' in this instance does not have a bottom plate 41 but the lower end thereof is arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 22 of the tub and the oscillator in this instance is provided with squeezers 42. In both of the illustrated forms of the oscillator, four squeezers are provided but it is to be understood that a greater or less number may be providedwithout depart ing from the ambit of the invention. The shaft 28', Figs. 4, 5 and 6, has a square portion 29 at the upper end thereof which seats in a rectangular socket in the bearing portion 31 in the oscillator 30, and with the exception of this socket arrangement in the bearing portion 31' and the provision of the plate 41, the oscillator 30' as thus far described is similar to the oscillator 30. In the housing 11, a gear 43 is provided having a hub 44 in which notches are provided to receive the lugs 45 on the lower end of the collar 46 having grooves 47 therein to receive the arms of the fork 48 pivoted at 49 on the clutch housing 50, the fork 48 including an arm 51 which extends beyond the periphery of the tub 10 to permit operation of the clutch and when the lugs 45 are disposed in the notches in the end of the hub 44, the shaft 28 is set in motion to operate the oscillator 30' which will function in a manner substantially similar to that described in connection with the oscillator 30.

During the time clothes are being washed in the tub, a lid (not shown) is rested on the bead 52 formed in the periphery of the tub adjacent the top thereof and this lid prevents water splashing from the tub.

In operation, soapy water is poured into the tub and a mass of clothes is then placed in the tub around the oscillator 30 and between the squeezers l9 and 42. The oscillator is set in operation and has a back and forth movement of slightly more than one hundred and eighty degrees imparted thereto. As the oscillator moves in one direction the squeezers 42 successively move past the squeezers 19 and as they aline with the squeezers 19, the water in the parts of the mass of clothes between the alined squeezers is pressed from the clothes. As soon as the squeezers 42 move from alineme nt with the squeezers 19, the pressure is relieved and the clothes expand thereby inducing the water to flow back into the clothes. When the oscillator has reached its limit of movement in one direction it reverses immediately. The clothes do not, however, immediately move in reverse direction and thus a relative movement between the clothes and oscillator occurs whereby different parts of the mass of clothes are alined with the squeezers 42. As the oscillator continues to move in reverse direction these newly alined parts of the mass of clothes are compressed and expanded whereby the water flows from and into the clothes. This movement of the water into and out of the clothes effects cleansing thereof. A movement of the water additionally to that induced by alternate compression and expansion of the clothes results from the movement of the oscillator which agitates the water and increases the effectiveness of the cleansing action.

It is manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided a washing machine wherein the clothes alternately compress and expand which induces the water to flow from and into the clothes and since the mass of clothes is oscillated, the water is additionally agitated which increases the effectiveness of the cleansing action. Since the oscillator is mounted on the formed portion of the shaft, it may be easily lifted off and this facilitates cleaning of the machine. Moreover, since the parts are all neatly rounded and there are no sharp corners, the liklihood of damage by reason of the clothes being cut is substantially eliminated.

While I have illustrated and described selected embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers rigidly mounted at the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, an oscillator disposed within the tub and embodying spaced radially extending squeezer members having the outer ends thereof rounded on radii of substantially equal length to the length of the radii of the protuberances, the squeezers at the tub wall and the squeezers on the oscillator extending substantially parallel to each other so as to effect uniform squeezing action throughout their vertical extent, and means for moving the oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a continuous band mounted on the vertical wall of the tub' substantially midway between the top and bottom edges of said wall and having vertically extending spaced apart squeezer members thereon consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into-the other, an oscillator disposed within the tub and embodying radially extending spaced apart squeezer members having the outer ends thereof. rounded on radii of substantially equal length to the length of the radii of the protuberances, the squeezers on the band and the squeezers on the oscillator extending substantially parallel to each other so as to effect uniform squeezing action throughout their vertical extent, and means for oscillating the oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers band on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the squeezers on the oscillator and the squeezers on the band on the tube wall to induce the water in the tub to alternately flow from and into the clothes to effect cleansing thereof.

3. In a washing machine, a sheet metal tub, squeezers formed in the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, an oscillator disposed Within the tub and embodying radially extending spaced apart squeezer members having the outer ends thereof rounded bn radii of substantially equal length to the length of the radii of the protuberances, the squeezers in the tub wall and the squeezers on the oscillator extending substantially parallel to each other so as to effect unif )rm squeezing action throughout their vertical extent, and means for oscillating the oscillator to move the squeezer members thereon past the squeezer members on the tub wall whereby as the squeezer members on the oscillator move past the squeezer members on the tub wall clothes between the oscillator and the tub wall are compressed, the compression of the clothes being relieved as the squeezer members on the oscillator move into alignment with the grooves, the alternate compression and relief of compression inducing water in the tub to flow from and into the clothes to effect cleansing thereof.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being of substantially the same size and horizontally rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other and having the upper and lower endsthereof rounded into the tub wall in spaced relation with the top and bottomedges of said wall, the termination of the ends of the squeezers in spaced relation with the bottom of the tub providing a well at the bottom and at the periphery of the tub in which solid matter may collect to avoid circulation thereof through the clothes in the operation of the machine. an oscillator disposed within the tub and embodying radially extending spaced apart squeezer members thereon having the outer ends thereof rounded on radii of substantially equal length to the length of the radii of the protuberances, the squeezers on the tub wall and the squeezers on the oscillator extending substantially parallel to each other so as to effect uniform squeezing action throughout their vertical extent, and means for oscillating the oscillator to movev the squeezer members thereon past the squeezer members on the tub wall whereby as the squeezer members on the oscillator move past the squeezer members on the tub wall clothes between the oscillator and the tub wall are compressed, the compression of the clothes being relieved as the squeezer members on the oscillator move into alignment with the grooves, the alternate compression and relief of compression inducing water in the tub to flow from and into the clothes to effect cleansing thereof.

5. Ina washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub, a shaft mounted in said standard, an oscillator mounted about said standard and connected to said shaft, said standard and oscillator including cooperating bearing parts for guiding the oscillator, a plate at the lower end of said oscillator and disposed close to the bottom of the tub. squeezers extending upwardly from said plate and projecting radially relative to said standard and spaced from each other and having the outer ends thereof roundedon radii of a length substantially equal to the length of the radii of the protuberances, and means for oscillating said shaft to operate said oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub Wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, squeerers on the upright Wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub, a shaft mounted in said standard and having a polygonal end, an oscillator removably mounted about said standard and connected to the polygonal end of said shaft, said standard and oscillator including cooperating bearing parts for guiding said oscillator, a plate at the lower end of said oscillator and disposed close to the bot tom of the tub, squeezers extending upwardly from said plate and projecting radially relative to said standard and spaced from each other and having the outer ends thereof rounded on radii of a length substantially equal to the length of the radii of the protuberances, means for oscillating said shaft to operate said oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof, and a clutch for connecting said oscillator to the means for oscillating the same.

'7. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub, a shaft mounted in said standard and having a polygonal end, an oscillator removably mounted about said standard, a clutch on the polygonal end of said shaft and including means engageable with said oscillator to connect said oscillator to said shaft, said standard and oscillator including cooperating bearing parts for guiding the oscillator, a plate at the lower end of said oscillator and disposed close to the bottom of the tub, squeezers extending upwardly from said plate and projecting radially relative to said standard and spaced from each other and having thebuter ends thereof rounded on radii of a length substantially equal to the length of the radii of the protuberances, and means for oscillating said shaft to operate said oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof.

8. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded on radii of substantially equal length to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub,

a shaft mounted in said standard and having a polygonal end, an oscillator removably mounted about said standard and connected to the polygonal end of said shaft, said standard and shaft including cooperating bearing parts for guiding said oscillator, a plate at the lower end of said oscillator and disposed close to'the bottom of the tub, squeezers extending upwardly from said plate and projecting radially relative to said standard and spaced from each other and having the outer ends thereof rounded on radii of a length substantially equal to the length of the radii of the protuberances, means for oscillating disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof, and a clutch at the lower end of said shaft for connecting said shaft to the oscillating means therefor.

9. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of. the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub, a shaft mounted in said standard, an oscillator mounted about the standard and connected to the shaft, said standard and oscillator including cooperating bearing parts for guiding the oscillator, said oscillator also including radially projecting squeezers having rounded outer ends spaced from each other and adapted to cooperate with the squeezers on the tub wall, and means for oscillating said shaft to operate said oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof.

10. In a washing machine, a tub, squeezers on the upright wall of the tub and consisting of protuberances spaced from each other by grooves, said grooves and protuberances being rounded to smoothly merge one into the other, a standard in the tub, a shaft mounted in said standard and having a polygonal end, an oscillator mounted about the standard and connected to the polygonal end of said shaft, said standard and oscillator including cooperating bearing parts for guiding said oscillator, said oscillator also including radially projecting squeezers having rounded outer ends spaced from each other and adapted to cooperate with the squeezers on the tub wall, means for oscillating said shaft to operate said oscillator to move the squeezers thereon past the squeezers on the tub wall to alternately compress and expand clothes disposed between the oscillator and the tub wall to effect cleansing thereof, and a clutch for connecting the oscillator to the shaft.

r ARTHUR H. LABISKY. 

